Which group must approve a resident to self-administer drugs?

Which group must approve a resident to self-administer drugs?

• A. Attending physician
• B. Medical Director
• C. Interdisciplinary team
• D. DON and consultant pharmacy

Answer: (C)

Approving a resident's ability to self-administer medications relies on a collaborative assessment by an interdisciplinary team. This team brings together nursing staff, medical providers, pharmacy professionals, and other care members to evaluate whether the resident can safely manage meds, including cognitive capacity, manual dexterity, understanding of dosing, adherence, storage, and monitoring for side effects. They establish rules, training, supervision requirements, and documentation. Because safety and autonomy must be balanced through input from multiple perspectives, the decision rests with the interdisciplinary team. The attending physician, Medical Director, or DON and consultant pharmacy each have roles in policy or oversight, but the formal approval for self-administration is the team's responsibility.

Approving a resident's ability to self-administer medications relies on a collaborative assessment by an interdisciplinary team. This team brings together nursing staff, medical providers, pharmacy professionals, and other care members to evaluate whether the resident can safely manage meds, including cognitive capacity, manual dexterity, understanding of dosing, adherence, storage, and monitoring for side effects. They establish rules, training, supervision requirements, and documentation. Because safety and autonomy must be balanced through input from multiple perspectives, the decision rests with the interdisciplinary team. The attending physician, Medical Director, or DON and consultant pharmacy each have roles in policy or oversight, but the formal approval for self-administration is the team's responsibility.